In this episode, I summarise the current state of play from my perspective, having interviewed 11 lawyers doing interesting and innovative work in the practice of law.

These lawyers are truly transforming the world through their new ways of practising law. I explain who they are and what they are doing. They make me optimistic we will see a tipping point in the way law is practised which will make lawyers better equipped to serve the new paradigm.

This episode celebrates these amazing individuals.

Show notes:

[1:32] I'm seeing many lawyers leaving large hierarchical law firms to step out on their own or in smaller groups to be true to themselves, to better allow people to be authentic and serve their clients humanely, like David Cameron (David Cameron Law Office), Matthew Burgess (View Legal) and Mel Lyon (Hive Legal). John Chisholm is a lawyer who is a mentor to these new law practitioners.

[4:12] Lawyers are also helping corporations and businesses to be more human-centred and better for the planet, like Patrick Andrews who devises innovative structures for visionary businesses.

[6:40] To facilitate these changes, we will also need  government reform for a true representative democracy, including the voice of the Indigenous, and reform of courts to empower human rights and personal liberties.

[7:52] Lawyers are healing conflict at an individual and small business level, such as collaborative family lawyer Marguerite Picard (MELCA) and former 'head-kicking' litigation lawyer turned collaborative lawyer Peter Lustig.

[8:55] In contracts, Kim Wright is a leader in value-based contracts, a way for contracts to really allow the parties to join together to build something positive together. Meanwhile, Camilla Anderson produces comic-book contracts, which makes contracts more accessible and compassionate.

[10:49] Spiritual lawyers such as Amanda Lamond and Virginia Warren are bringing divine guidance to lawyers through coaching, training programs and mentoring programs, thus ushering in more spiritualty and love into the profession and our clients.

[13:04] As we move through this time of volatility and change, we need to avoid stepping into negative energy and remaining in the polarised old paradigm. We can create most effectively from a place of higher frequency, which means focussing on the new.

[15:39] An initiative that is occurring right now includes Amanda Lamond convening a council of lawyers to hold a vision for a New Earth paradigm from a legal perspective.

[16:50] Kim Wright and several others are also hosting a global online event this week to explain and teach lawyers in new modalities that will serve the new paradigm.

​For more, please visit the episode page on the New Earth lawyer website.

David is the principal of David Cameron Law Office, based in Hong Kong.  David started his own law firm in order to better serve clients and provides advice on corporate law and financing transactions at a fixed fee. 

David has thought deeply about every facet of his new firm, from core values and the 12 commitments he makes to every client, to how he would develop and nurture anyone who comes to work for him. We talk about all this against the unique backdrop of the Hong Kong legal market, where New Law firms are only just beginning to emerge.

Show Notes

• [1:29] David explains the nature of the Hong Kong market - which is segmented into various types of law firms. The market and regulatory barriers to entry mean that NewLaw firms are only just beginning to emerge.
• [6:02] David's move to set up his own practice came from his own innate sense that he was limited by his prior environments and wanted to test boundaries in the law.
• [9:18] David's simple innovations include introducing a Board of advisors, and establishing  core values and client commitments.
• [11:52] NewLaw firms have a unique opportunity to create alignment between clients and their founder's values. 
• [13:39] David describes the way he went about identifying how he could make meaningful, truthful commitments to clients to distinguish himself and let clients know he can be trusted.
• [15:18] A NewLaw firm can implement core values from inside-out that are not just a poster on a wall. 
• [21:13] David explains that in Hong Kong, the fixed fee, value pricing model resonates with a mid-level segment of the market which is prevalent in Hong Kong.
• [26:11] Marketing for a niche law firm in Hong Kong also is about finding a personal touch and way of communicating.
• [27:27] The entry of Chinese law firms in Hong Kong has shaken up the top end of the market but not really impacted the segment targeted by David's firm.
• [29:12] In looking to hire a lawyer to join him, David has thought deeply about what he can offer the right person and how this plays into the broader factors young Hong Kong lawyers are facing right now. This includes nurturing, close attention to professional development, work-life balance, an opportunity to participate in innovative law practices, and succession planning.
• [33:42] David's sound advice for young Hong Kong lawyers is to be mindful of debt burden being acquired, look for a niche, and consider all of your options.
• [37:33] Opportunities for young lawyers joining NewLaw firms are non-traditional but offer a more transparent path.

To learn more, visit the episode page on the New Earth lawyer website.

In this episode, I discuss the current state of our shift in consciousness as a human collective. As part of this shift, we are breaking out of control structures that exist in our current paradigm.

​I highlight the need to be aware of the old (and not so old) control structures and how to identify them. Many structures have benevolent origins but become hijacked with an energy of selfishness, power, division and control. Identifying control structures will enable us to continue our work to build new positive structures that do not attach to the energy that we are leaving behind and no longer serves us.

Show notes:

​[0:27] This week I appeared on Soulogy Network talking about the shift in human consciousness and how New Earth lawyer and our guests contribute to the shift.

[1:35] We are shifting from a three-dimensional (3D) consciousness to a fifth-dimensional (5D) consciousness. Fourth dimensional (4D) consciousness is not a platform where humanity dwells permanently and we thus will bypass it.

[3:45] Since not all of us are ready to shift from 3D to 5D, as an intermediate step we will transform our current 3D experience, most importantly to break out of the control structures that influence us. 

[6:42] The control structures in our current paradigm are reinforced by the power of our thoughts. Most of these structures are hijackings or inversions of systems that have origins in benevolence and service to humanity, like the medical system.

[9:11] In the legal system, control structures show up in established systems like government and the criminal justice system.

[12:39] The way to identify control structures is that the good intentions take on an energy of punishment; rigidity and rules; economic transactions; inauthenticity and  box-ticking; and most of all divisiveness. 

[13:44] There are also newer control structures - these include public health legislation and national security legislation, two areas where government should behave in a protective manner but are easily hijacked into abusive tools of suppression and tyranny.

[15:07] More subtle new control structures include corporate social responsibility and the sustainability movement, which can become infused with controlling energy when governed by fear, compulsion, rigidity,  money, inauthenticity and polarisation.

[17:37] Support for underprivileged and vulnerable groups can likewise be inverted to create a welfare mindset and stigmatisation.

[18:27] To ensure we can discern when a well-intentioned movement or modality is being hijacked into a control structure, lawyers can keep doing inner work and following inner guidance.

[19:55] Some lawyers may be called to fight control structures to shed light on what is happening but most of us working in creating for the New Earth will move past that energy to build beautiful legal movements, concepts and modalities for the new paradigm.

To learn more, go to the episode page on the New Earth lawyer website.

Melissa Lyon is Executive Director and Experience Designer of Hive Legal, a boutique law firm based in Melbourne, Australia. She is committed to improving the experience for those who receive legal services and all of those who work in our industry. 

​We talk about how innovation starts with prioritising the experience for clients and for your people. This is the essence of human-centred design and is Mel's guiding principle and what makes Hive Legal successful.

Show Notes

[2:00] Mel explains how innovation was built into every component of Hive from its inception.
[3:42] Hive not only has removed time sheets to focus on outputs but allows completely flexible remote working practices.
[5:40] The nub of Hive's innovation is its human-centred design - for clients and its people.  The legal profession tends to jump to high-tech solutions and efficiencies instead of focussing on the people experience.
[9:19] Mel gives an example of how Hive with its flat structure brings in the right components of expertise (tech and design-thinking) to improve client experience in a contract approval process.
[13:25] Mel talks about Hive's purpose to improve the experience for its team and clients and her own purpose to give people a fulfilling career early on.
[14:59] Authenticity gives rise to creativity which breeds an innovative culture.
[17:20] We talk about healthy cross-pollination and innovation within firms which traditional law firms have barriers around.
[20:24] Mel explains how at Hive everyone has input into strategy which leads to true inclusiveness. Everyone's voice is heard which motivates everyone to contribute time and energy to the betterment of the firm.
[24:57] Big Law will always have a place for large scale legal matters but New Law is already contributing to the legal ecosystem.
[27:09] As a New Law firm, Hive offers a unique training model for graduates in highly specialised areas with the same type of work as Big Law but in a different model. Young lawyers now can also think about allied legal areas and building their career in a completely bespoke way.
[31:26] Hive intends to expand its consulting model which involves bringing its successful innovative ideas to the broader legal ecosystem including other law firms, clients and regulators.

For more, visit the episode page at the New Earth lawyer website.

In this episode, I discuss how I integrated my experience of taking ayahuasca after returning from Peru 2017.

I had several twists and turns on the path to aligning my purpose, that involved initially throwing myself into my work, later changing direction and transforming my legal practice and finally leaving my job to be work on my own. Along the way, I learned more about the nature of our multi-dimensional reality and why we need to practise discernment when building a new paradigm for the future. 

Show Notes

• [0:49] Immediately upon my return from Peru, I threw myself into my work.
• [2:07] Three months after my return, I had a realisation that I was not on the right path, which led me to reflect more deeply on my experiences and reach out to people who had experienced a spiritual connection with off-world energies.
• [6:42] Upon discovering that many ordinary people were connecting with extra-terrestrials delivering a message of a shift in human consciousness, I began to ponder whether I was in the right job. 
• [7:51] I was inspired to eventually move away from my legal practice of corporate transactions and mergers & acquisitions into a kinder, more responsible type of law.
• [10:05] A year or so later, I had another rude jolt that led me to reassess my work once more.
• [11:14] I began to delve into more historical research of extra-terrestrial contact that suggested to me that the human race has been affected by our off-world interactions for aeons.
• [14:18] I realised that humanity has likely been negatively influenced and controlled by outside forces without our realisation.
• [17:11] The shift in consciousness for humanity has as much to do with levelling up to a higher consciousness as it does with recognising and breaking out of existing and very old control structures.
• [18:22] If we want to be effective change-makers, we need to be cognisant of the darker side of our past and present as a collective and aware of what we are building with our thoughts and our imaginations.  We waste our energy if we work within the control structures.
• [19:22] We also need not fight existing control structures. Our most effective way forward is to see them for what they are and use the power of our imagination to build new ones.

For more information, visit the episode page on the New Earth lawyer website.

Matthew Burgess is a founder of specialist firm View Legal which offers holistic estate planning solutions and education for trusted advisers. He has developed a unique specialist model that is all about elegant and effective tech and pricing innovation geared to clients.

​We talk about what pricing innovation looks like using Matthew's real-life experience, how tech doesn't have to be expensive or advanced to deliver effectively and what kind of diversity actually leads to innovation.


Show notes

[1:49] Matthew takes us through his journey from young-gun partner at a large law firm to realising that being "exquisite" at filling in timesheets did not make him the kind of lawyer he ought to be for his clients.

[5:40] Matthew talks about trying to fight the machine from the inside - from piloting fixed pricing to ditching timesheets.

[10:12] Matthew shares what he learned about value pricing along the way, including being not attached to the outcome but looking out for the client's best outcome.

[14:05] We reflect on the possibility of scaling up value pricing for large law firms, and the impact that would have on the reallocation of resources away from the timesheet model to investment and client relationships.

[16:36] Throwing out timesheets means transforming the entire system from one that values "time spent" to one that removes the focus on short-term gains and huge margins.

[19:18] Matthew explains how technology is an enabler and it's often simple solutions like retraining lawyers to use cheap and effective technology that delivers significant efficiencies.

[23:19] Releasing lawyers and staff from routine work that technology can take care of allows reimagining of the entire law firm including building-in rewards for innovation not adding them on as extra incentives.

[26:54] We discuss how both Big Law firms and New Law disruptors have a part to play in the entire ecosystem of training lawyers technically and to develop emotional intelligence.

[31:00] We cover how current law firm partners have no incentive to change the system. From there, we delve into how monoculture in law firms strips out diversity of thought, no matter how diverse people may appear in gender or culture. 

[35:22] In talking about authenticity, Matthew explains how until we begin to focus more on results, as a profession, we will not get to true diversity. 

[36:54] Our attempt to conform in law firms, from our style of dress to the things we talk about, stifles personality, authenticity and diversity.

[39:41] Matthew's final piece of advice is to focus always on how to best deliver and create value for people.

For more, visit the episode page on the New Earth lawyer website. 

In this episode, I discuss more of my experience taking the South American psychedelic brew ayahuasca in Peru in 2017.

This second part covers some of the profound experiences I had under the influence of ayahuasca, including what I learned about the nature of my being - the connection of my soul to my personality and body and how they each interact. Plus, and having my "soul purpose" shown to me in a completely unexpected way.

Please remember that, as a psychedelic concoction, ayahuasca is to be treated with caution and respect. It is also illegal in many places in the world.

Show notes

[0:44] I describe the schedule of the seven ceremonies over 12 days.

[1:48] I go over a typical day when we would have an ayahuasca ceremony.

[3:02] I explain the physical setting where we would consume ayahuasca each evening.

[3:45] I explain what actually happened in each ayahuasca ceremony, how we would drink our dose, how the shamans would set things up and so on.

[5:22] I recount my first experience with ayahuasca which was pleasant.

[9:03] One of my worst experiences with ayahuasca came with a reminder not to take my physical body for granted and to be grateful for it.

[11:55] Ayahuasca physically healed me in a systematic way, scanning my body energetically for physical problems.

[13:40] My most significant ayahuasca ceremony was one where my soul purpose was revealed.  But before that I had to answer an important question asked by ayahuasca.

[15:19] My purpose was revealed to me. 

[17:48] The strangest part of the experience was who or what revealed my purpose to me.

For more, please visit the episode page at the New Earth lawyer website. 

Amanda Lamond is a Legal Futurist, a Soul Coach for lawyers and a Spiritual Channel. Her name, Amanda Lamond, means “Beloved Lawspeaker”. 

​In this episode, we talk about  her various roles and how they each touch on the importance of Spirit in the life of lawyers today - to secure a brighter future for the profession, to help individual lawyers find their soul purpose and to bring in the higher guidance that Amanda has received which is her unique contribution in creating and holding space for lawyers of the new paradigm.  

Show notes

• [2:51] In discussing her role as a legal futurist, Amanda explores the breakdown of current systems in this current period we're living in, including the legal system.
• [5:25] Amanda speaks about the crisis in the law, which is that lawyers are not liked, don't like each other, and don't like themselves.  Integrative law seeks to address this crisis.
• [8:49] Amanda works with universities and law students to grow their awareness of another way to practise law. 
• [13:10] From her work with universities, she created the awakening lawyers mentoring program with 28 law students and 28 mentors from around the world.
• [16:04] Amanda's soul coach work is aimed at encouraging awakened lawyers to remain in the law by reimagining and redesigning their lives.
• [22:04] Through the mentoring program, Amanda is guiding law students to see the innovative ways in which lawyers are practising law and allowing them to see more options.
• [25:29] Amanda's soul coaching work with lawyers includes programs to uplift client perceptions and energies so they are empowered to execute their soul purpose.
• [32:41] In working with someone to divine their soul purpose, Amanda helps them tap into their inner wisdom and also to heal and accept themselves and be comfortable with stillness and silence.
• [39:30] Amanda relates her remarkable story of when she began to hear her spiritual guidance more clearly which has led to her becoming a spiritual channel. It began with a trip to Bali, Indonesia in 2012. 
• [43:12] Today Amanda channels messages for herself and her clients who are awakening lawyers to support them in their journeys. 
• [46:22] Amanda is also being guided to work more with groups of lawyers and create and hold safe space for these groups of new paradigm lawyers to emerge and do their work.

To learn more, visit the episode page on the New Earth lawyer website.

In this episode, I discuss my experience taking the South American psychedelic brew ayahuasca in Peru in 2017.

This is the first of a multi-part series, where I introduce the basics of ayahuasca, what it is, how it's made, what to consider when choosing how and where to do ayahuasca and what attitude to bring to the ceremonies.

I recommend resources and links for anyone interested in pursuing a journey of consuming ayahuasca.

Please remember that, as a psychedelic concoction, ayahuasca is to be treated with caution so please conduct careful research. It is also illegal in many places in the world.

Show notes:

​[1:49] Ayahuasca is now very well-known and kind of trendy - including amongst creative professionals and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.

[3:33] Ayahuasca is both a plant (a vine) and a brew made out of that vine and a shrub.  The two plants interact with each other to enable a hallucinogenic effect,

[6:28] I describe my reasons for wanting to experience ayahuasca, specifically curiosity about what is the true nature of reality and a search for personal purpose.

[11:12] A word of caution about ayahuasca - as it is a hallucinogenic concoction, it will make you unable to move without assistance so you must feel safe amongst people who are around you when you take it.

[12:59] Ayahuasca is illegal in many places in the world and although not expressly illegal in Australia, it should be assumed and treated  as such.  This is why I travelled to Peru where there is a legal ayahuasca tourism industry.

[14:58] I recommend a centre near Iquitos, Peru which is called the Temple of the Way of Light, with Western trained facilitators and medical staff as well as indigenous Shipibo male and female shamans, with independent reviews and recommendations I could verify.

[16:47] I travelled from Melbourne, Australia to Iquitos, Peru and made the journey by river and foot into the jungle to the centre. I followed instructions to stay away from the Internet while there and to adhere to a strict diet.

[19:03] Apart from the setting, set is also important in approaching ayahuasca - that is, mindset, For me the three important factors are: respect for ayahuasca; clarity of intention; and a courageous spirit.

For more, visit the episode page at New Earth lawyer website.

Peter Lustig is a lawyer and mediator based in Melbourne, Australia. As a collaborative practitioner, he is interested in healing and peacemaking: resolutions, not least-worst-outcome settlements. As a coach, he is involved in men's groups including adult male rite of passage programs with a not-for-profit called Mankind Project Australia.  

​In this episode, we talk about how lawyers - like health professionals - are facilitators of heroic healing journeys and how that shows up in our life stories, including Peter's own epic legal battle with an iconic Australian corporation.  

Show notes:

• [1:39] Peter explains how childhood trauma and experiences as a young man equipped him only to deal with conflict through fight, flight or freeze responses, For him, a good part of being  an adversarial lawyer was arrogance.
• [3:38] Creating one's own rites of passage is part of the journey into inquiring about one's purpose.  Doing his own inner work led Peter to see his clients were becoming entangled with the law  because there were lessons they were resistant to learning.
• [7:49] I discuss with Peter the parallels between our profession and the medical profession, and between traditional legal practice which resolves conflicts superficially and allopathic medicine, which treats symptoms only. 
• [10:35] Just as our bodies express psychological trauma as physical ailments, conflict shows up in our lives to demonstrate to us what is going on within us.
• [14:26] Peter's shares his own bruising experiences in a long-running legal dispute with Qantas, which began with an incident while he was boarding a flight from Sydney to Melbourne with a client. 
• [18:27] The proceedings Peter was embroiled in involved defending a felony charge with a potential  significant custodial penalty.  Peter was successfully cleared of the charge on appeal.
• [20:11] Following resolution of the criminal proceedings, Peter and his client launched civil action against Qantas in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal .  Eventually, Qantas succeeded in arguing the Tribunal did not have jurisdiction to hear the case.  
• [22:49] Peter's overall lesson from the epic battle with the iconic Australian company is that it was humbling, and he would do things differently if he could go back to the moment that set it off, The dispute became about entitlements, and the relationship aspects were lost in the heat of legal battle.
• [26:09] From Peter's personal saga, we move to the men's groups he leads, which are adult male rite of passage programs taking young men through wilderness journeys where they conquer challenges and integrate the experiences upon return, all in a safe space overseen by other men who have experienced the same. 
• [29:54] The programs encourage alignment of the heat, heart and belly; authenticity; and checking in with emotions.
• [33:45] We talk about how women typically process and heal trauma differently, being moved to nurture in a maternal sense as opposed to directing efforts towards fixing as men traditionally do.
• [37:11] Peter explains how lockdown exacerbates conflict and we can use it as an opportunity to identify triggers.
• [38:44] Being a better human being is the aim, which will lead us to be better lawyers - better in everything we do.
• [40:15] Peter relates 2 powerful stories of resolution in a partnership dispute and a divorce settlement which shows that ultimately resolving all interpersonal conflict comes down to reminding ourselves of our relationships with the people around us. 

For more, visit the episode page on the New Earth lawyer website.